Improvement in railroad-car seats



D. H. CHAMBERLAIN.

lmpr ovement in Railroad Car- Seats.

N0 116 154 P atentedJune-ZOJB H. I l I V VENTOR,

. WITNESSES.

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UNITED STATES DEXTER H. CHAMBERLAIN, OF WEST ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD-CAR SEATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,154, dated J une 20, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

swung from one side of the seat to the other,

to adapt them to the direction in which the car is to move; and the invention particularly relates to the rest-blocks for the arms, by which the back is hung; and it consists of such restblocks, constructed with an inclosed India-rubber or other elastic cushion or spring, in a pcculiar manner, to be hereinafter described, that when the said arms of the back are brought down upon the said rest-blocksthey can yield to the blow or jar, preventing the loosening of the screws by which said arms are fastened to the back, and thus securing the durability and permanence of such fastening.

In the accompanying drawing the present invention is illustrated, Figure 1 being a view in elevation of an arm-rest to a railroad-car seat, showing the hanging of the arm to which the back of the seat is fastened, andthe restbloeks therefor, one of which is shown as opened, to illustrate their construction with a rubber cushion; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of the arm-rest to seat, with the construction of rest-blocks, &c., applied; Figs. 3, 4, and 5, views in detail on an enlarged scale, of the rest-blocks; Figs. 6 and 7, views in detail of rest-blocks, modified in their construction from that shown in the preceding figures, but involvin g the same principle.

A in the drawing represents an arm-rest to a car-seat, which may be made of wood, iron, or other suitable material, and in any of the forms or styles now in use upon railroad cars;

B, an arm pivoted at O to the inside face of the arm-rest A. To this arm B the back of the seat is to be fastened by means of screws inserted through the holes a, provided therefor in the extensions D. By hanging the arm B as described it is susceptible of being swung from one side to the other of the seat, coming to a rest on blocks E, suitably located therefor upon the arm-rest A; F, the face of restblocks E, against which the arm B comes in contact. This face F, under the present invention, is constructed so as to yield or give to the jar or blow of the back-arm B, when brought to its rest .thereon, by arranging an India-rubber or other elastic cushion, b, in such portion of the rest-block. This cushion b is covered by a metallic or other suitable plate,

c, which, in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4., and 5, is constructed as a continuation or part and parcel of a stirrup -shaped band, d embracing and encircling the periphery of the rest-block, whereon it is held by fastening over the front side d of the block a plate, f, of metal or other suitable material, made of proper shape therefor, and with an upward-projecting piece, g, for a guide and guard to the back-arm B when brought down upon the rest-blocks. It is obvious, from the above description of the construction of the rest-blocks, that its face, with which the back-arm B comes in contact, is susceptible of yielding or giving to the force or jar of the blow therefrom, thus relieving the screws or other fastening devices employed to secure such arm to the seat-back from being wrenched or strained, securing greater permanency and durability thereto, and obviating the annoyance and injury now experienced with rest-blocks having a rigid or non-yielding seat or face. As the rubber or other cushion is covered by the plate cit cannot be tampered with, and it is removed from that wear and deterioration which would result were the arm to come in direct contact with it. In lieu of constructing the covering-plate c in the manner described, it may be made as shown in Fig. 6-that is, not a continuous band, as previously described, but with prongs 1, arranged to interlock with a way or groove, m, in each side of the rest-block; or as shown in Fig. 7- that is, of a form to encircle the rest-block, but to be fastened thereon by means of a screw,

screw-bolt, and nut, rivet, or other suitable fastening device, through its ear-pieces m It may be well to here observe that it is intended in practice to apply rest-blocks such as described to both arms of the car-seat.

Having thus described my invention, I shall state my claim as follows:

A rest-block, E, for car-seats, 850., provided with an elastic cushion, b, and a stirrup shieldplate, 0, applied about the block E, and partially or wholly encircling the same, as described, for the purpose specified.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 20th day of December, 1870.

D. H. CHAMBERLAIN. Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, (D ms. J. TAYLOR. 

